Villagers disrupt railway land survey
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 28 2016: People residing from Tairenpokpi to Malom today disrupted land survey for the construction of railway line.

The Affected Land Owners' Association has said that no land survey would be allowed at these areas until an understanding is reached with the Government.

Villagers shouted slogans at the areas where survey was taking place today.

Association secretary and former Minister S Rajen said that people have no opposition to construction of railway line.

The Government had earlier announced that land value would be fixed according to Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015.However, it was fixed according to the rate provided by the office of land registration which is much lower.

Saying that land value provided by Registration office can never be taken as the market value, S Rajen said that they would always oppose disparity in land valu- ation.

Saying that most of the villagers are farmers and they are not satisfied with the land value fixed by the Government, S Rajen said that they would disrupt land survey until an understanding is reached in this regard.

He also cautioned that the association is ready to initiate different forms of agitation if the Government continues land survey forcibly.

Saying that the Government would spend no money from the State's exchequer to compensate the land owners, S Rajen said that an understanding must be brought at the earliest if the Government wants to see train service soon.

He also questioned whether the State Government is trying to impress the Centre by reducing the land value.

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